Letters: Big thanks to those preserving Elmira’s Civil War role

Our community should be eternally grateful to a group of volunteers who are putting back together the importance of Elmira’s role in the Civil War.

John Jones, the escaped slave from Virginia, identified and properly buried in Woodlawn Cemetery each of the Confederate soldiers who died in the notorious Elmira Prison Camp, a stunning act of forgiveness on his part. His home will be dedicated and opened to the public this summer.

A building from that camp has been carefully reassembled by community volunteers. Dimon and Bacorn brought trucks and men to move the more-than century-old building close to its original location by the Chemung River.

On June 24 this building will be dedicated and the grounds open to the public, a thrilling accomplishment in our hopes to never forget the tragedy of America’s Civil War. We give thanks to this indefatigable group.